Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 76934 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 385(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76934 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 385(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
“There might have been more propositions and groping than I’ve mentioned before.” Ezmeray’s face hardened. “But it never went, you know, too far.”
“That was already too far. You were a child.”
“There’s no reason to be upset about it now. They’re dead.”
“But they didn’t die painfully enough, now that I know that.”
“It was more important to be free than to get revenge.”
“I guess. I still hate that I couldn’t protect you.”
“That goes both ways.”
She nodded.
We’d both been through a lot.
We both would have liked to protect each other. And our mother. But we were young girls stuck in a group of men’s sticky web.
“Doesn’t this seem like a long walk for little Tuna?” Ezmeray said when she glanced at the clock.
“Oh, please. This isn’t a dog walk. This is a super-secret mafia meeting that they aren’t letting us be a part of.”
“You’re probably right,” she said, then shook her head. “Now, I’m wondering how many of these long walks Brio has taken the dogs on have been meetings.”
“Knowing this Family, most of them.”
“I wonder what he would do if I offered to do the walks.”
“Likely tell you it wasn’t safe.”
“These Costa men,” she said, shaking her head. “Speaking of.”
“Oh, do we have more dirt?”
“Maybe, but you’re the one who has it.”
“What?”
“What’s going on with you and Christopher?”
“What? Nothing.” That came out too fast, too pitchy. Even as my mind flashed with memories of him behind me in bed, his hand between my thighs, his hard length against me.
“Oh, please. You’re staying at his apartment to recover.”
“He offered.”
“So did Brio.”
“Your place is packed.”
“This place is packed too.”
“But it’s all on one level.”
“Alara,” Ezzy said, rolling her eyes. “This is me. We don’t need to lie to each other.”
I sighed, looking out the window. “Maybe it’s because I was feeling shitty. And I didn’t need to, like, perform for Christopher.”
“You don’t need to perform for us, either. But I get what you’re saying. You are more likely to put on a brave face for us and our kids, even when all you want to do is wallow.”
“Yeah, I guess that’s it.”
“But let’s be real. That’s not all of it.”
“Ez…”
“I’m not blind. I’ve seen the way both of you keep looking at each other when you think the other isn’t looking.”
“I’m not going to lie. Some… stuff has happened.”
“Okay. And?”
“And… nothing. He doesn’t want me.”
“I think said ‘stuff’ happening proves otherwise.”
“I guess maybe it’s more that he doesn’t want to want me.”
“Why?”
“Because of Brio, mostly. And because I’m younger than him.”
“Oh, my God. It’s not like you’re eighteen years old.”
“Right?”
“And what about Brio?”
“I’m his wife’s baby sister.”
“Right. Like Brio doesn’t know you’re a full-grown woman who spends time with men, and occasionally goes home with them.”
“You know how the Family is about this stupid crap.”
“Like, I’d get the concern if Chris was planning on fucking you and fucking you over. But I really don’t think he’s looking just to hook up with you.”
“No, he’s… I think he’s in a more serious phase of his life. Random sex isn’t what he seems to be looking for.”
“I’ll mention it to Brio. No, don’t interrupt,” she demanded, holding up a hand. “In a casual way. In a ‘it seems like Chris and Alara have a spark’ kind of way. See what he says. But I know my husband. He wants you happy. He wants Chris happy. He would love it if you made each other happy.”
“I think everyone is just getting away with themselves here. It’s not that serious.”
“Is it not that serious, or are you two fighting it? There’s a difference.”
“I think—”
I was saved from answering by the men coming back with an exhausted-looking Tuna. Each man had a bag of something that smelled like onions and vinegar.
“Brought back lunch.”
“Me too, but you and I are eating it alone in our empty house,” Brio said, reaching out to snag my sister around the waist and pull her to her feet.
“I’ll check on you in a day or two,” Ezzy said, but it was clear I’d already lost her focus as Brio whispered something in her ear while ushering her to the door.
Alone, I turned back to Christopher as he pulled subs out of the bag.
“Did you have a fun super-secret mob guy meeting?”
His lips tipped up at that. “That obvious, huh?”
“What did they find out?”
“They were looking into Robin’s murder, obviously. And her life.”
“Did they find anything?”
“Not necessarily about her, no. She had a boyfriend up until a few months ago, though. He got locked up on some outstanding warrant.”
“Did he get out and kill her?”
“No, he’s still locked up. But they shipped him out of state, so even if we could get a visit, it’s not likely to happen. Our best bet, though, is that whatever is on that flash drive is likely his information, not hers. He has a rap sheet as long as my arm. But he’s done a lot of floating around to different crews, so it’s hard to pin down what could be so valuable to someone.”